Immediately after the ceremony, the reception kicks off the wedding festivities . Cocktails with or without alcohol, quantities, culinary workshops, and favorite addresses, today on The Barefoot Bride, we share with you our tips for organizing your wedding reception .
WHAT IS A VIN D’HONNEUR?
It generally lasts about two hours , and allows for example to thank the people who came to attend the ceremony, but who would not necessarily be invited to dinner.
WHERE DOES THE RECEPTION TAKE PLACE?
Depending on the reception location you have chosen, it can take place indoors, or outdoors on sunny days. Always plan a plan B , in order to be able to organize your reception in the shelter in case of bad weather, under a pretty courtyard, a tent, or a room if the place allows it. For practical reasons, avoid as much as possible that your plan B is also the room of your dinner, in order to clearly distinguish the spaces, to allow the catering teams to take advantage of the cocktail hour to finalize the setting up of the dinner, and to avoid, if this is your case, any difficulties in getting guests who are not invited to dinner to leave.
SWEET OR SALTY?
It all depends on the time of your ceremony. For a wedding in the morning, which sometimes happens in the case of civil ceremonies in large cities, opt for example for a brunch after the town hall. If you said yes in a small committee, book for example in a nice restaurant where you will have immediately defined the unique menu for your loved ones.
For a ceremony in the afternoon, do according to your tastes. At the end of the afternoon, you can bet on a “snack” formula, with sweet treats and alcohol-free refreshments, and gradually extend the day with an aperitif, where you will serve savory bites and you will start serving the ‘alcohol. Do not serve it too early, because even if your wedding is a festive day, it is better not to start drinking prematurely How about a grazing table ? We love the concept of aperitif boards or tables developed in particular by Citron Pavot with its French Boards service . Mediterranean tapas-style boards with fruits, cheeses and charcuterie that always have their effect!
HOW MANY DRINKS FOR YOUR GUESTS?
Managing drink quantities for guests can often be a headache for newlyweds. First ask your caterer for advice, he will be able to inform you and help you on this point. Note that in general, it is necessary to count a bottle of champagne for 4 guests, a bottle of wine for three, one to two glasses of cocktail per guest, a bottle of soft drink for two guests , one or even two bottles of water per guest in case of strong heat, a bottle of strong alcohol for thirteen people and a liter of coffee for thirteen guests also.
Also remember to check the storage capacity of the refrigerators in the reception venue where you are getting married. In general, cold rooms are available to you, but in case, consider renting refrigerated trailers or what your caterer provides for them.
THE QUANTITIES OF ALCOHOL TO BE EXPECTED
Avoid choosing too many references . No need to multiply the number of different wines just to avoid confusion and above all a headache! Opt for example for one or two signature cocktails, white wine and red wine, why not a little champagne. And we go easy on strong alcohol, so as not to have to deal with overly alcoholic guests.
WHAT KIND OF DRINKS TO SERVE?
Are you tired of the traditional glasses of champagne, other glasses of punch, sangria or grapefruit rosé? Why not opt for the cocktails? Prepared in advance and delivered in bottles, made on site by seasoned mixologists, they will have the advantage of refreshing your guests and introducing them to new flavors and combinations.
Also think of all those who do not drink alcohol , and plan drinks accordingly. For example, opt for two unique cocktail recipes, available in alcoholic or non-alcoholic versions, ideal for young people or adults who do not consume alcohol. They will thus have the impression of drinking the same thing as the others! Flavored waters can also be a great alternative (cucumber, lemon / mint / ginger, strawberry, grapefruit…)
And for the children, don’t hesitate to offer them artisanal fruit juices, homemade iced teas, smoothies or a syrup bar, which will allow them to choose what they want to drink like the grown-ups!
